Electric spatula



Oct. 26, 1937. N. 1 Hlscox ELECTRIC SPATULA Filed Dec. 6

INVENTOR NDRMAN LEISUHK- ATTORNEY MII-lill Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELE CTRIC SPATULA 2 Claims.

This invention relates to electrically heated spatulas.

One object of the invention is to provide an y improved device of this character in which the heating element is arranged within the tool portion of the device and in close proximity to its free or operating point, whereby the latter is readily heated to and maintained at the desired temperature. l

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this character in which the heating element is arranged to be effective for heating the operating point of the tool while permitting the operator to hold the device relatively close thereto, whereby operation of the device is materially facilitated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this character in which the heating means for the tool point is so arranged that heat guards and shields are eliminated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved electrically heated spatula that is relatively simple in construction and may be readily and economically manufactured.

The invention is more fully described in the following specication, set forth in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which is shown a longitudinal sectional view of the device.

The device herein shown comprises a handle I and a tool 2, detachably connected in end to end relation as hereinafter set forth. The tool 2 is formed of suitable conducting material having high heat conductivity. The handle I is formed of suitable non-conducting material; such as bakelite, and is preferably hollow from end to end to facilitate manufacture and assembly of the parts and to enclose leads I I, I Ia. 'I'he leads I I, I Ia, are electrically connected to suitable contacts I2, I2a, mounted on the inner wall of the handle I adjacent its rear end, these contacts providing for the connection of the lead-in wires I4, Ma, which are preferably connected into a single strand 5, and supply current from a suitable step-down transformer (not shown). The rear end of the handle I is closed by a suitable tip 4 preferably threaded into the end thereof. The lead I Ia extends through the handle I and at its forward end is suitably connected to a threaded collar 9 formed of copper or other conducting material. The collar 9 is arranged at the forward end of the handle I and removably receives an externally threaded member I5 integrally connected to and projecting from the rear or for- (Cl. 21S- 21) ward end of the tool 2. The forward end of the lead IIa and collar 9 are secured in position by a screw I8 extending through the side wall of the handle I and preferably countersunk therein.

The lead II also extends through the handle I but terminates at a point remote from the end of the handle I and preferably serves as one member of a switch (to be later referred to) for which reason the lead is resilient so that its inner end normally tends to swing outwardly. The forward end portion of the handle I is formed with an opening la in which is slidably mounted a button 3 of non-conducting material, the button being normally pressed outwardly by the lead II and adapted to be engaged by the finger of the user and pressed inwardly to close the switch. The button is provided on its inner end with a head to limit its outward movement.

The tool 2 comprises a body portion 2a and an extension 2b terminating in a spatula point 2', the body portion and extension being preferably formed integral. The body portion 2a and member I5 are formed with an opening 2c extending inwardly from the inner end of the latter axially of the tool 2 for a purpose later set forth. 'I indicates a suitable heating element preferably comprising a coil of nichrome resistance wire embedded in suitable cement 6 within the opening 2c, the cement being capable of withstanding the heat generated in the Wire 'I. The cement fills the opening 2c and the space within the member I5. One end of the coil I is extended outwardly and soldered to the outer end of the member I5, sothat one side of the circuit is from the lead IIa, through the collar or cylinder 9, member I5 to one end of the coil.

The other end of the coil I is soldered or other- Wise connected to the inner end of a conductor, preferably comprising a rod 8, having a portion embedded in the cement 6 and extending axially outwardly through the member I5 and therebeyond for engagement by the movable end of the lead I I. I9 indicates an annulus formed of insulating material and surrounding the conductor 8 and insulating it from the member I5 and closing the outer end of the member I 5, the cement serving to hold the annulus in position. The cement when inserted in the opening 2c is in a liquid state and permits thecoil l and rod 8 to be readily inserted before setting.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the heating means is within a pOrtion of the tool, the control switch is arranged at the forward end of the handle and the handle being formed of non-conducting material, the user may hold the device close to the spatula point to conveniently and accurately operate it and at the same time he may with the same hand control the heating thereof Without changing the position of the tool or stopping his operations.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, many changes in construction and Widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves Without departing from theY spirit and scope of the invention. My disclosures and the 'description herein are purely illustrative and not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:-

1. A spatula instrument comprising an insulating hollow handle into which lead conducting wires, characterized by a tool piece formed of conducting material adapted to be mounted on one end of the handle, such'tool piece formed to have a Working end to be heated by electricity supplied through the said wires, and a body portion to the rear'of said Working end and integral therewith which is made hollow to form a socket, a heating coil located in said socket, a body of insulating material filling the socket and emv bedding the heating coil therein, Vand a conducting pin also insulated by the said body of material and extending therefrom into the handlegone end of the coil being electrically connected to the said pinV and through it adapted to have electric connection with one of the leadin'wires, and the other end of the coil arranged to have electric connection With the other lead-in Wire, the how of current through the coil being controlled by a. switch. Y

2. A spatula instrument comprising in Vcombination an insulated hollow handle into which lead conducting Wires, a threaded collar formed of conducting material tted into the front end of the handle, a tool piece made of conducting material and formed to have a working end that is heated by electricity furnished through the wires in the handle, a body portion to the rear of said working end that is made hollow to form a socket and an externally screw-threaded projection to the rear of the body portion adapted to engage with the'collar and thus unite the tool piece to the handle, the socket in the body of the tool piece extending through the said projection, a

heating coil located in the socket in the tool piece,

a body of insulating material filling the socket and embedding the heating coil therein, and a conducting pin also insulatedrby the said body of Wires leading into the handle being arranged-to Y be connected one WithV the screw-threaded collar and the other to have connection With the pin whereby current may be furnished to the coil to cause the same'to be heated.

NORMAN L. HISCOX. 

